Japan PM to tackle party scandal ‘like a ball of fire’

TOKYO: Japan´s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday he would tackle a major funding scandal within his party “like a ball of fire”, with reports saying he will sack four ministers.

The furore surrounds allegations of kickbacks of 500 million yen ($3.4 million) within Kishida´s Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed the world´s number three economy almost uninterrupted for decades.

Kishida, whose poll ratings are the lowest for any premier since the LDP returned to power in 2012, told a news conference that he planned to make personnel changes on Thursday, without giving details.

“We would like to make personnel appointments tomorrow (Thursday). We are currently coordinating and having consultations as we speak,” he said.

“We will tackle the various issues surrounding political funds head-on... I will make efforts like a ball of fire and lead the LDP to restore the public´s trust.”

Media reports said that those to be axed include Kishida´s right-hand man, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, and Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister for economy, industry and trade.

Others are internal affairs minister Junji Suzuki and agriculture minister Ichiro Miyashita, plus five deputy ministers, the Yomiuri Shimbun, Kyodo News and other media reported, citing unnamed government and party sources. All those set to be sacked are from the largest faction within the LDP which used to be headed by ex-premier Shinzo Abe who was assassinated last year.